New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-10
A HUGE OFFICE BUILDING.
THE EQUITABLE's NEW HOME.

In this era OF great building operations Is not dis
posed to be scepca what and laborer
can accomplish In short space OF time Modern meth
DDS have made wonder at the rapdity with
which substantial structures that would excited the
highest admiration Of orcfahers torn to pieces
and their places quickly replaced by the giant brick iron
and granite edhces that have transformed the lower par
OF the city within the last ten years Yet 1t is safe to
mat year ago not out OF dozen thought that
The promises OF the completion OF the big building that
covers Yearly the entire block bounded by Broadway aud
Nassaust and Pine and Cedar by May next would DO
carried out The preparation for the work "A
iabor or magnitude in ITSELF for there not only
prick walls to be opped over but walls of solid
be removed, and the great blocks that made the
walls were too valuable to be careiessly treated
| 1t was mighty task for any corporation
to attempt, but before May l tho building of the
Equitable Life Assurance So iety will BIO one of the fin
| ished wonders OF the city
The whose business called them daily up and down
broadway and Nassau-st between the Battery and City
Hall have watched with interest the progress made In
leveing the buildings that surrounded the old Equitable
site and In rearing the massive walls and stretching the
freproof floors for the structure One first gathered
some I'd ca Of the magnitude of the companys plans when
the great cellars uncovered after tho Metropolitan
Bank and the other demolished buildings adjacent TO IL
were swept away To-day. scaoldngs, boards and var
ions timber work OF builders obsruct the view of the
Broadway front of the homo OF the Equitable so that
the passerby gains idea OF the extent to which the
work on the interior has made progress. He catches
glimpse OF an imposing and facade but he knows
little OF the speed with which the within being
prepared for occupancy days journey inside would
give some notion OF what and carpenter have ac
compsbcd. Most OF the floors have been tiled and
many of them the trimming OF corridor ana room
has been far advanced regiment OF laborers-about
1000 men busy through the day. clearing up all tho
rubbish and debris Of the days work ut nights hasten
ing the great building TO completion and to witness the
activity OF this force to gain impressive idea Of how
thoroughly the division Of labor be carried In such an
| immense undertaking
SOUND BUSINESS INVESTMENT.
The great structure Is par with the corporation
that is erecting It. Grand the dimensions Of the enter
prise will appear to any who studies II, solid bust
policy furnishes ts foundation. No sentiment dctat
oil the expansion OF the handsome building which the
Equitable Society occupied into the huge pile which
OF ground In the heart OF down
town trade centre It q simple question OF invest
mert with the directors and managers Largo as were
the old quarters devoted TO tho oompanys the bust
ness developing at rate which called loudly for
moro extensive facilities Since tho foundation OF tho
organization each year has witnessed Its growth In
fields until 1t like giant cramped in ordl
nary mor,als limits Two courses open to the
gcra building might be found that II exclusively
devoted to company PURPOSES would furnish tho needed
increase OF the present location might be made
OF at the fnt opportunity. and added
Income
pcratvcy required to expand the facilities for handling
the business OF the company It decided. for the
| best interests OF pollcy-holiers TO extend
the building from It's existing site at the first favor
able opportunity Once decided upon. this plan was
ried with remarkable Since 1853 the Equit
able Society able purchase nineteen pieces OF
property including It's original holding transaction.
considering the favorable situation OF the property.
which realestatc find few parallels for There
slnguine enough to-day TO predict that suoh
nchioy emeut repeated ia New YOrks great Imam
ca within many generations An acre Of ground
an Investment Manhattan Island safer and soundor
than host OF corporation securities building that will
be one sights OF tho wordaoilities that will
ueve every dep OF the company from It's present
ovorcrowdod condition and means Of revenue that will
put total investment tho basis OF 59 cent
taxes repairs everything coaredl-these are the pos
sessions OF this corporation. which Is fast reach
| ing n position that will put 1t TO the
| front not only OF insurance corporations. but
OF every kind OF associations OF capital regards tho
magnitude OF busncss transacted In deciding the
| enterprise completion the compsny's man
kept view only tho need OF greater facilities
present purposes the need OF meeting the proDa
demands Of the future development OF business In
pushing the work rapidly completion that economy
In mind which called for small loss OF interest
on vacant possible And In making its In
the society gains only al tional space for
the transaction OF ia affairs by the additions
ng purposes by tho alterations mado In tho old building,
sarways and halls being removed aud the court OF tho
| old building being used for the central hall
GENERAL PLAN OF THE BUILDING.
Only meagre idea OF the imposing character OF the
Equitable Building can be gathered from any do
scription Of Every familiar with downtown New
York Will roilze the advantages " ts situation Aloin
ing Il arc the rooms Of the Clearing House OF the Assoat
ed Banks: within block two tho Sub Treasury.
tho Custom House and tho Stock Exchange. Around 1t
cluster OF banks and Is absolute centre OF
numerous private banking ana brokerage houses railroad
and Insurance 0cos aad almost every kind Of financial
enterprise short walk will take one. going SOUTH TO
the Produce Exchange and other downtown organza-
tons OF similar characters aud. going north. TO the
PosOnioe aud the buildings devoted to the city govern
men officials. The elevated railroads arc within easy
reach. and not steps required to gain the ferries
that empty into the city carry ont oft the hun
deds OF thousands OF people who called regularly or
occasionally ~ the metropolis Nearly facing the struct
Trinity churchyard giving light and air denied to
many less favoraoiy situated buildings Standing tho
| roof OF tho Equitable Building tho magnificent
| view OF the rivers that clrco Manhattan Island.
| the bay crowded with craft aud tho shores
NewJersey and Long Isand. rivals that OF neigh
boring coign OF vantage and Is little essened gazes
| from the windows OF tho floors below.
An architects admiration Is exorted by the symmetry
Of tho building spacious court occupies the centre
OF the pile with handsome corridors leading into IL from
all the four entrances OF the building From Broadway
clear view VIII be obtained through To Nassaust The
fronta Broadway Is 1879 feet The architect has
followed the style OF tho old building, which has com
manded the admiration OF many experts. The roof has
uniform but above the contro OF tho Broadway
front Is broken by pavilion which rises In the form
OF square stories in height Not counting tho
basement. the building Is nine stories In height SO that
the tower lifts lofty head eleven stories from the rst
floor distance OF ~ feet from the ground Above
this will float the signals OF the Government observation
| ollco, the main flagstaff carrying the Tutoring
flags height 200 feot above tho Broadway pavement
| Tho main entrance from Broadway viii be through
porch which forms pavilion aud constitutes the central
motive OF the Broadway facade. The hall leading into
the central Will bc - feet in width anu ~ feot IN